Thermoplastic composition and article

Abstract

The invention is directed to a thermoplastic composition and to an article made from said thermoplastic composition. More in particular, the invention relates to blended polyolefinic materials, which, after molding, provide a soft touch feel. The thermoplastic composition of the invention comprises (A) 10-40% by total weight of the composition of glass fibers; (B) 22-46% by total weight of the composition of a propylene homopolymer matrix phase; (C) 1.5-26% by total weight of the composition of an ethylene-propylene copolymer dispersed phase; and (D) 11-46% by total weight of the composition of a mixture of elastomers, said mixture comprising an ethylene/C 5-8 α-olefin copolymer and an ethylene/C 3-4 α-olefin copolymer.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A thermoplastic composition comprising,
 (A) 10-40% by total weight of the composition of glass fibres; 
 (B) 22-46% by total weight of the composition of a propylene homopolymer matrix phase; 
 (C) 1.5-26% by total weight of the composition of an ethylene-propylene copolymer dispersed phase; and 
 (D) 11-46% by total weight of the composition of a mixture of elastomers, said mixture comprising an ethylene/C 5-8  α-olefin copolymer and an ethylene/C 3-4  α-olefin copolymer. 
 
     
     
       2. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said ethylene-C 5-8  α-olefin copolymer is an ethylene/C 6-8  αolefin copolymer. 
 
     
     
       3. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said ethylene/C 3-4  α-olefin is copolymer of ethylene and 1-butene. 
     
     
       4. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/C 5-8  α-olefin copolymer and the ethylene/C 3-4  α-olefin copolymer are present in a weight ratio of 5:1 to 1:1. 
     
     
       5. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said propylene homopolymer phase (B) and said ethylene propylene copolymer dispersed phase (C) are a homopolymer-based matrix phase and a dispersed elastomeric phase of a heterophasic polypropylene copolymer. 
     
     
       6. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomers in the mixture (D) are different from the ethylene-propylene copolymer dispersed phase (C). 
     
     
       7. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising (E) a heterophasic polypropylene copolymer having a melt flow index of 50 g/10 min or more as measured at 190° C. under 2.16 kg force according to ISO 1133. 
     
     
       8. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomers in the mixture have a density of 850-880 kg/m 3  and a melt flow index of 0.5-35 g/10 min as measured at 190° C. under 2.16 kg force according to ISO 1133. 
     
     
       9. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass fibres have a filament diameter of 10-20 μm. 
     
     
       10. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising (F) a modified polypropylene, wherein said modified polypropylene is a polypropylene grafted with one or more selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid or salts thereof, an anhydride, and an ester. 
     
     
       11. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising (G) a silicone particle having the formula (I)
   R x SiO 2−(x/2)   (I)
 
 wherein x is a positive number greater than or equal to 1, and each R is independently an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group. 
 
     
     
       12. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising (H) a polysiloxane, wherein said polysiloxane comprises an ultra high molecular weight polysiloxane with a kinematic viscosity of 10×10 6  cSt or more as determined in accordance with ASTM D445 at 25° C. 
     
     
       13. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising 0.1-2% by total weight of the composition of one or more selected from the group consisting of a thermal stabiliser, a UV stabiliser, a visible light stabiliser, and an antioxidant. 
     
     
       14. An article made from a thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       15. An article according to  claim 14 , in the form of one or more selected from automotive exterior parts, bumper fascia, door panels automotive interior parts, instrument panels, consoles, interior trim parts, door grips, shift boot, dashboard, and parts for electrical appliances. 
     
     
       16. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said ethylene-C 5-8  α-olefin copolymer is an ethylene/C 7-8  α-olefin copolymer, and 
 wherein the ethylene/C 5-8  α-olefin copolymer and the ethylene/C 3-4  α-olefin copolymer are present in a weight ratio of 3:1 to 1:1. 
 
     
     
       17. A thermoplastic composition according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein said ethylene-C 5-8  α-olefin copolymer is a copolymer of ethylene and 1-octene; and 
 wherein the ethylene/C 5-8  α-olefin copolymer and the ethylene/C 3-4  α-olefin copolymer are present in a weight ratio of 2:1 to 1:1.